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Texas grabs 'pen candidate Woods in Rule 5 Draft

Texas grabs 'pen candidate Woods in Rule 5 Draft

11/17/12: Colorado Rockies pitching prospect Coty Woods works a solid inning of relief in the AFL championship game

By T.R. Sullivan
/
MLB.com |

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- The Rangers selected right-handed reliever Coty Woods from the Rockies' organization in the Rule 5 Draft on Thursday morning at the Winter Meetings.

Woods throws sidearm, gives right-handers trouble and could be a candidate for the Rangers' bullpen. He split time between Double-A Tulsa and Triple-A Colorado Springs in 2012, and then pitched well in the Arizona Fall League.

He was 3-2 with a 0.76 ERA and 16 saves in 38 games for Tulsa and 1-2 with a 7.40 ERA in 23 games for Colorado Springs. He was 1-0 with a 3.18 ERA in 11 games in the AFL.

"He's very tough on right-handers," said Rangers pro scouting director Josh Boyd. "He pitched effectively in the Fall League, we saw three pitches, anywhere from 89-92 [mph] on his fastball, good sinker with good life, a good slider and the makings of a changeup that could get left-handers out. We're looking to rebuild our bullpen and using this opportunity to address that."

The Rangers must keep Woods on the Major League roster for an entire season, or he will be offered back to the Rockies for $25,000.

Also in the Rule 5 Draft, the Rangers lost first baseman Chris McGuiness, who was selected by the Indians. McGuiness was acquired from the Red Sox on July 31, 2010, in the Jarrod Saltalamacchia trade and hit .268 with 23 home runs and 77 RBIs at Double-A Frisco this past season. He followed that up by hitting .283 with four home runs and 27 RBI in 25 games in the AFL. He was named the league's Most Valuable Player, but was not added to the 40-man roster this winter.

"We spent a lot of time discussing whether to put him on the roster or not," Boyd said. "He came off a strong season and was the Fall League MVP. We like the player a lot."

Texas also lost infielder Tommy Mendonca, who was taken in the Minor League phase by the Athletics. He was the Rangers' second-round pick out of Fresno State in 2009.